A CRICKETER from Guilden Sutton has flown to Australia on a mission to help her country retain the Ashes.

Wicket-keeper Lauren Griffiths is a member of the England squad that will be battling to emulate the current exploits of Andrew Strauss’ team and keep hold of the women’s equivalent of the famous urn.

The 23-year-old former Chester Boughton Hall player said: “I’m very happy to be selected. I’ve been involved for a few years now without getting a game, but I was always confident that I’d get a chance.

“I’m now hoping that the tour will be amazing.

“I played out in Melbourne in 2009 for a season of grade cricket (equivalent county cricket) but will now get the chance to tour around the whole country.”

The four-week tour will take in matches in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, culminating in a one-off Ashes Test at the end of January.

Cheshire captain Griffiths made an impressive competitive international debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year and was subsequently selected to guard the stumps Down Under in place of long-serving wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor.

“It’s a big challenge replacing Sarah as she’s been around for four or five years, but I can’t wait,” said former Upton High pupil Griffiths, who flew to Perth with the rest of the England squad yesterday. “We will play before the men’s team on January 12. We’ve been watching them closely of late and they made a brilliant start on a difficult pitch.

“It will be great to play in the big stadiums as we try to retain the Ashes.”

Griffiths will take time away from her day job as a finance associate to begin her international programme on January 5 with the first of a best-of-three one-day international series.

The best-of-five Twenty20 series begins on January 12, with Sky Sports set to screen the first two matches live.

The tour concludes with the showpiece Ashes Test, starting on January 22.